Advances and Answers in Pediatric Health
SHALLOW ( DYSPLASTIC ) not so many ultrasounds ,” Dr . Georgopolos says . “ The hip registry makes it easy for us to go back and look at these and other factors , allowing us to ask good targeted research questions that then can be translated into more personalized care .”
The group recently found babies don ’ t always need the full 12 weeks of the Pavlik harness to make a full recovery , allowing some families to end that treatment earlier or slowly wean off the treatment before the 12-week mark . This approach still offers many benefits without sacrificing long-term outcomes ( 2 ).
Another study revealed the importance of the six-month X-ray and ultrasound in the ongoing management of hip dysplasia . They found that these tests are particularly valuable in predicting residual dysplasia in the future , which can lead to an increased risk for osteoarthritis and functional limitations ( 3 ).
DISLOCATED
Dr . Murphy-Zane says , “ I think that our manuscripts reflect that you can have a treatment that works really well , but you have to make sure that you ’ re doing it for the right reasons . And that has been what our papers have focused on . Are there ways that we can make it easier ? For sure .”
Outreach is also a key part of the work Drs . Georgopolos , Murphy- Zane and Hadley-Miller are doing to improve care for infants with hip dysplasia . The group connects with pediatricians to help educate them on sensitive risk factors for hip dysplasia in babies .
“ The education has really made a difference in how often we are seeing these kiddos before things get pretty bad ,” Dr . Murphy Zane says . “ Our goal is to not do surgery on these kids . Our goal is to see them early enough that we can treat them with nonoperative methods .”
CARE ACROSS THE LIFESPAN
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This registry will also allow the team to continue tracking these patients over a longer period of time , opening up opportunities for personalized treatment for this group of patients in the future .
“ We are continually evaluating our protocols and making changes to make things a little easier for the families — not so many visits or
Dr . Selberg is the final piece to the puzzle . Her research and care focuses on teenagers . For teens with symptomatic hip dysplasia , the periacetabular osteotomy ( PAO ) procedure is one of the main treatments to correct the hip positioning . Dr . Selberg and her team have created a whole-patient experience that is unique to Children ’ s Colorado by infusing education into the treatment process to limit the need for pain medication post-procedure .
The team offers a hip education class every month for patients with upcoming PAO surgery . The virtual class gathers physical therapists , nurses and physician assistants to help patients understand the nuts and bolts of surgery and what to expect from recovery . This class also provides a unique opportunity for the patients to hear from a former patient to learn more about their experience .
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